The gay soldier known as AreYouSurprised caused an internet sensation when he publicly came out to his father on YouTube last week to celebrate the end of the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy. Now it's time to come out to his mother. It doesn't go as well.

To celebrate the end of the military's ban against openly gay servicemembers, a gay soldier…
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When Mr. Surprise came out to his father, he expressed nothing but acceptance and love. The soldier explains that his mother is much more conservative and that she "likes to talk," so he's worried about her reaction. Instead of talking a lot, she just gets silent, then she says she pulls out the old "God created Adam and Eve not Adam and Steve line." No, really. While she says she's always going to love him and is proud of him, she's also "worried about his spiritual well-being."

The thing about coming out is that it's not really an event, it's a process. You have to kick it off with a big event, but the real torture of coming out is revisiting the issue over and over again until acceptance is reached—or not. While this isn't as heartwarming or positive as his interaction with his father, this is the sad truth about coming out for many Americans. It's never easy, but it's always worth it.